Design Star 2010 Finalist - Julie Luoma

I've been quilting for.. Although I've been watching friends quilt for many years, I only started quilting myself last March.

I began quilting because.. I met Margaret Miller and purchased her book, Angleplay, and I was so energized by all of the creative ways to quilt, that I just had to do it.

I learned to quilt by.. asking my friends lots of questions. I research on the internet, and I've taken a couple of classes

My style is.. going to be unique to me. I like modern and art quilts. I love to look at quilts for inspiration, but have no desire to exactly duplicate one. I want my quilts to be an expression of my creativity.

Julie LuomaAuburn, WA

I was inspired by.. my very good friend, Jacque Davis, who has been quilting for about 20 years and she encourages me in all of my efforts. Also, as I mentioned before, Margaret Miller in her books and classes has set me free to use colors and textures freely and to re-arrange with gusto.

My inspiration comes from.. I went to the quilt show at Sisters, OR and took pictures that I look through quite often. I also look online at every quilting site I can find.

When designing.. I see blocks or colors combinations that I like and I start playing with them.

I'm attracted to.. I love anything blue or bright.

My stash.. fits in two medium sized plastic tubs. I really enjoy completing projects and don't plan on having a big stash.

I belong to.. 3 online groups: SewingNightOwls (a Yahoo! group) who give me general encouragement in everything crafty; The Quilting Board for answers to every questions and tons of pictures; and Scrappy Quilting also for fun, pictures and answers to questions.

My non-quilting hobbies.. I do machine embroidery and enjoy digitizing my own designs. Combining embroidery and quilting are really interesting to me. I also like to read and garden.

I entered Quilt Design Star™ because.. I thought that it would be fun to enter my quilt and see if there were any others like it.

What you should know about me.. I feel like learning to quilt has unleashed a storm of pent-up creativity from inside me. I look forward to creating and sharing my quilt designs.

Free quilt patterns and quilt block patterns, along with graphics and complete instructions that help you learn how to make quilts. My free quilt making community includes quilting groups, galleries and message boards.